NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE peremptory breaking off by General Botha of the peace negotiations wac soon followed by a very brilliant little victory for the British arms. On Monday Lord Kitchener was able to report that Babington's force, including Shekleton's column, had attacked Delarey, 1,500 strong, south-west of Ventersdorp. and defeated him. Our troops followed up their victory, with the result that the Boer rear- guard was driven in, and their convoy, including guns, was captured at Vaalbank. In the course of -the action two 15-pounder guns, one "Porn-Porn," six Maxims, 320 rounds of 15-pounder ammunition, 15,000 rounds of small-arm, 160 rifles, .53, waggons, 24 carts, and 140 prisoners were captured. Though our losses were slight, many Boers were killed and wounded. Since then there have been one or two other small actions of- a kind favourable to the British. The defeat of Delarey must not, of course, be exaggerated, but it is cer- tainly a good beginning for the last phase of the war.
